9/6 – 9MW Coatesville Solar Initiative Approved

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Saturday, September 6th 2014

We are thrilled to share the news that the Coatesville Solar Initiative has received final approval from the Coatesville School District, meaning our friends at Keare’s Electrical Contracting will begin construction on this 9.1MW solar PV project soon!

From the Daily Local News:

“Years of negotiations and anxious anticipation for a final decision, Coatesville Area School Board members approved the remaining agreements with Coatesville Solar Initiative, Inc. for the development of a solar field.

“I can’t express how happy I am to come to this point,” school board president Neil Campbell said before the board approved three items related to the solar project. “It is my hope that in the next few months you are going to see a major construction project that will run through this main campus to that build, which will benefit this community.”

School board members unanimously approved a 25-year power purchase agreement at a fixed rate of about $.0765 per kilowatt hour for the first three years of the agreement. The remaining 22 years, the school district would pay “a discounted market price subject to specified floor and ceiling prices thereafter,” according to the school board agenda.

The school district will never pay more than the ceiling price and if those rates fall between the floor and ceiling, the school district will receive a 10 percent discount on energy.

Projected costs over the next 25 years show in 2039 the school district could pay about 3 cents less per kilowatt hours using solar verses “grid” energy – projected to reach $.16 per kilowatt hour.

The CSI solar project is a 9.1 megawatt solar farm that will be installed on 46 acres of property just south of Dogwood Lane and Scott Drive and north of Coatesville Area High School in Caln Township. The school district was expected to purchase about 6 megawatts of power for the high school.

The board also approved granting CSI an easement through the high school campus to gain access to the construction site and an agreement for CSI to provide the school district with “added benefits” – installing outdoor lighting, providing the school district with an electric car and three charging stations for district use, solar education kiosks and an education center – at no cost to the school district.

CASD is receiving a onetime payment of $125,000 as a part of the easement agreement.

School district’s special legal counsel from Rhoads & Sinon, said the installation of lighting at the high school and Friendship Elementary must be done within 6 months of the “commercial operation date of the solar facility.” The education center, charging kiosks and electric vehicle must be provided to the school district in 36 months of the operation date.

According to Coatesville Solar Initiative (CSI) representatives working on the project, $15 million will be spent locally, and a local jobs program was developed to hire two or three residents who live in the nearby Carver Court development.

CSI representatives said not much has changed from the original agreement presented last year. They said the per kilowatt hour price and the additional benefits for the school district remain the same.”

Read more on the Coatesville Solar Initiative website.

8/22 – Pennsylvania Gas Production Continues to Break Records

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Friday, August 22nd 2014

From StateImpact PA:

“Drillers in Pennsylvania continue to produce record-breaking amounts of natural gas, according to new numbers released this week from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Companies operating in Pennsylvania produced nearly 2 trillion cubic feet of gas in the first half of 2014.

If they continue at this pace, Pennsylvania is on track to produce 4 trillion cubic feet this year– or about 16 percent of what the entire United States consumes annually.”

8/15 – Job Alert: Energy Lending Specialist at AFC First

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Wednesday, August 15th 2014

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

Title: Energy Lending Specialist

EnergyLoan® Consumer Lender – Download Job Description

AFC First Financial Corporation, a Lehigh Valley, PA based private financial institution which specializes in consumer lending and program management for residential energy efficiency projects nationwide is looking for a talented, detail-oriented and upbeat person for the position of Energy Lending Specialist (Consumer Lending).

The ideal candidate has solid experience in process, production and customer service and who has demonstrated success in working in a team environment processing and closing consumer loans and/or residential mortgage loans.

The primary goal is to deliver an exceptional service experience to contractors and consumers in a consistent and timely fashion.

AFC First, founded in 1947, is the administrator of state and utility energy efficiency programs nationwide, in partnership with over 6,000 contractors. Programs include Pennsylvania’s Keystone Home Energy Loan Program, Efficiency Maine, Illinois Energy Loan, Connecticut Solar Lease Program and the national EnergyLoan and HUD PowerSaver programs. It is a team-oriented, collaborative company environment with direct access to executive management.

Job Description:

This position is a key part of AFC First’s EnergyLoan operations team and reports to the Vice President of Production. The primary goal is to effectively process and underwrite unsecured consumer loans for energy efficiency home improvements, providing accurate decisions and an exceptional level of service to consumers and contractors.

Principal Duties Include:

Responsible for origination, processing and closing of unsecured consumer loans in an automated environment. Works as part of a team handling contractor, sponsor and customer relationships.
Ability to work as part of a team, to build and maintain a culture of exceptional customer service, handle production flow within established deadlines and work to error-free quality standards.
Responsible for meeting established loan processing timelines and quality targets. Maintain high volume and quality in loan production. Review and analyze the effectiveness of the programs, recommend change as needed and works as part of the implementation team.
Work with the Senior Credit Officer to ensure that loan decisions are within established credit matrices appropriate to the loan type.
Effectively communicate lending status and decisions with consumers and contractors, providing friendly, knowledgeable and extraordinary service to all parties. Accurately maintain all records in loan processing database in a timely fashion, efficiently process applications and produce accurate and correct documents.
Ensure compliance for all lending procedures including bank and/or regulatory procedures, policies, requirements, laws, rules, and/or regulations. Ensures compliance with company policies and procedures, and makes suggestions for improvements to procedures.
Ensure that all interactions with customers, sponsors and contractors meet world class customer service standards.
Other duties as assigned as part of a dynamic and growing company with a reputation for integrity and excellence since 1947.

This position is a key part of the AFC team. You will work closely with senior management and be involved in the product planning and implementation processes. The position is based at AFC First’s headquarters in the AFC First Energy Center on Brookside Road in West Allentown/Lower Macungie Township.

Technical Skills and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
Minimum three-five years experience in consumer lending, with knowledge of consumer lending laws and regulations
Exceptional commitment to world-class customer service
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Exceptional interpersonal, organizational and teamwork skills
Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
Ability to use standard Microsoft Office applications and an ability to quickly learn new IT platforms and technology
Available to work regular hours Monday through Friday, plus additional hours as necessary

Full-time, salaried position. Compensation DOE.

Please forward resume to William Walsh, Vice President of Production at wwalsh@afcfirst.com.

8/11 – PPL Proposes New Pennsylvania Transmission Line

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Monday, August 11th 2014

From StateImpactPA:

‘PPL Electric Utilities is looking to build a new multi-billion dollar transmission line to keep up with natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale and the changing landscape of power generation.

If approved by regulators, the high-voltage power line is still a decade away but PPL has started planning.

The transmission line would start in Western Pennsylvania and run 725 miles through the state’s Northern Tier, into New Jersey and New York, as well as southward into Maryland.

The project would cost between $4 and 6 billion, according to PPL spokesman Paul Wirth.

“The gas industry is one of the impetuses behind it,” he says. “The other is that by starting in Western Pennsylvania we can bring existing supplies of lower-cost power—fueled by renewables and other sources—into this region.”’

Read the full article at StateImpactPA.

8/5 – 2014-2015 Annual Needs Assessment Available

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Tuesday, August 5th 2014

Click here to complete!

It is that time of year again when we ask for your input in creating an informative profile of the region’s smart energy industry. Our five-minute needs assessment will help us prioritize our 2014-2015 efforts and initiatives.

Please take a few minutes to tell us how we may help your organization grow and prosper.

Thanks in advance! We look forward to working with you in the upcoming year.

If you have any questions, please contact Will Williams.

7/28 – Wayne, PA’s Independence LED Lighting Giving Away $1M for Retrofits

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Monday, July 28th 2014

From Keystone Edge:

Wayne’s Independence LED Lighting is celebrating its namesake holiday all month with a $10 million giveaway program to small businesses.

The maker of LED tubes and LED fixtures will cover up to $10,000 per business for the first 1,000 that register this month. Services include a cash-for-clunkers buy back on fluorescent tubes (when replaced with LED lighting), a lighting savings analysis, manufacturer-direct pricing, zero-cost financing and free installation.

Independence moved its manufacturing from China to Pennsylvania in 2010 in order to increase quality assurance, reduce transportation costs and improve delivery time to its customer base, concentrated between Washington, D.C. and New York City, says CEO Charlie Szoradi.

7/21 – Job Alert: Director of Development at the Energy Coordinating Agency

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Monday, July 21st 2014

Title: Director of Development

Works Closely With: Executive Director, Program Director and other staff and Board members

Responsibilities:

Development
1. Long range development planning: Determine annual funding priorities with the management team, and dedicate specific funding sources to approach for them.

2. Conduct development activities, including grant writing, contract renewal, and responding to RFPs, including government, foundation, corporate, and organizing individual donor campaigns. Write selected proposals, reports and copy for annual giving
materials.

3. Develop and maintain effective systems of record-keeping for development. Maintain foundation and donor records.

4. Support the aggressive expansion of the ECA donor base. Maintain donor database in Salesforce or its successor.

5. Conduct research for fundraising, proposal development, and public information materials including the Annual Report.

6. Development and implementation of donor campaigns; Plan and support ECA benefits, donor cultivation and other selected events.

7. Grants administration: Reporting for foundation grants and
others as assigned.

Communications
Works with Executive Director and senior staff to update and implement the Communications Plan. Conducts communications activities in order to support development goals; including website content related to development, publishe the e-newsletter, writes and issues press releases; speaks to the press on behalf of the agency. Conducts research related to public information materials, and produces the Annual Report.

Qualifications
Master’s Degree in English or Communications plus a minimum of three years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising and public relations; excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; strong interpersonal skills; good basic understanding of the energy conservation and renewable energy field and strong organizational skills.

Competitive salary and benefits. ECA is an equal opportunity employer. Send resume and writing sample to carols@ecasavesenergy.org by 8/29/2014.

7/16 – Job Alert: Community Solar Sales Consultant at Community Energy

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Wednesday, July 16th 2014

Company Overview
Community Energy is a leading developer and marketer of renewable energy with offices in Pennsylvania and Colorado. We are a leading community solar company that provides Americans with universal access to affordable solar power.
Our retail division has an established retail market base and reliable brand in delivering wind and solar power to our customers. Community Energy, Inc. is independently-owned and headquartered in Radnor, PA. For more information please visit http://www.communityenergyinc.com.

Position Description
Community Energy is seeking self-starters with a passion for clean energy. Promote clean, homegrown solar power and make a difference by generating leads and closing deals with interested residential and small businesses. The Sales Consultant will work closely with Community Energy’s overall sales and marketing team. This role is community-oriented. Community Energy will provide training and marketing materials for all Sales Consultants.

Responsibilities
Persuade households to switch to solar energy provided by off-site solar projects in their community
Self-generate leads team by collecting information of residents and small businesses interested in solar
Weekend work required

Sales and Marketing Channels Include:
Phone calls
Direct mail campaign
Referrals
Grassroots networking through local organizations/neighborhoods
Door to door canvass
Event Marketing (Fairs, Concerts, Festivals)
Tabling at retail locations (Natural Food Stores, Farmers Markets)
Presenting to community/environmental groups

Qualifications/Requirements
Enthusiasm for and knowledge about the renewable energy industry
Sales experience preferred
Excellent verbal communication skills
Experience in community involvement or organization preferred
Ability to learn quickly and retain new information

Details
Additionally, Community Energy seeks candidates who are flexible, able to prioritize efficiently, take responsibility and initiative in their fields, have demonstrated focus, success, and motivation, and who are looking to be part of a rapidly-growing, hard-working, good-humored team of individuals.

Compensation
This position includes a competitive base salary along and commission schedule.
Interested Candidates: Please email cover letter and resumé to jthomas@communityenergy.com

6/24 – Supreme Court: EPA Can Regulate CO2 Emissions

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Tuesday, June 24th 2014

Yesterday, the US Supreme Court ruled that recently announced plans to limit CO2 emissions from power plants was a valid and legal effort by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This means that, barring additional legal challenge, the EPA will move forward with its plan to reduce Pennsylvania power plant emissions by 32% over the next 15 years by allowing the Commonwealth to create and implement its own emissions reduction strategy.

From the Washington Pos t:

“The Supreme Court on Monday mostly validated the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to regulate major sources of greenhouse-gas emissions such as power plants and factories but said the agency had gone too far in interpreting its power.

The court’s bifurcated opinion on one hand criticized the agency for trying to rewrite provisions of the Clean Air Act. But it nevertheless granted the Obama administration and environmentalists a big victory by agreeing that there are other ways for the EPA to reach its goal of regulating the gases that contribute to global warming.”

Read the full article on WashingtonPost.com

6/18 – PEDA Announces $12.5M for Pennsylvania Energy Projects

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Leslie Rylke

Wednesday, June 18th

Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) is now offering approximately $12.5 million in funding for advanced energy projects, and for businesses interested in locating or expanding their alternative energy manufacturing or production operations in the Commonwealth. Of the $12.5 million, $10 million is specifically for renewable energy projects, such as solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass. PEDA is happy to provide this opportunity which is now open for application until August 15, 2014.

Projects that will be considered include the manufacturing of alternative energy or energy efficiency equipment or materials; the development and deployment of innovative, clean, advanced and efficient technologies; the generation of alternative energy or the production of alternative fuels; or the implementation of energy efficiency/demand side projects.

Eligible applicants include corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations and other legal business entities; non-profit corporations; Pennsylvania schools, colleges and universities; any Pennsylvania municipality and any public corporation, authority or body.

PEDA is hosting a related webinar on June 24th from 2-3 p.m. to review key items for this funding opportunity. Please note that advance registration is required. You can register here.

More Information and Program Fact Sheet